Infusion carrier for attachment to hospital stretchers



March 30, 1954 KREWSON 2,673,771

INFUSION CARRIER FOR ATTACHMENT TO HOSPITAL STRETCHERS Filed Feb. 6, 1952 Patented Mar. 30. 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INFUSION CARRIER FOR ATTACHMENT TO HOSPITAL STRETCHERS Josephine E. Krewson, Muskegon, Mich.

Application February 6, 1952, Serial No. 270,182

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in an infusion carrier for attachment to hospital stretchers.

The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a carrier for supporting infusion liquid and other apparatus associated therewith on an invalid stretcher so that the operation of administering infusions to patients may be carried on without an attendant being present.

Second, to provide an infusion carrier that is readily adjustable so as to be attachable to various types of invalid stretchers.

Third, to provide an infusion carrier that is sturdy and rigid when attached to a stretcher, and which at the same time is relatively simple and easy to attach.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and claims. which there is one sheet, illustrate a highly practical embodiment of my infusion carrier.

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of my infusion carrier mounted on an invalid stretcher. Portions of the stretcher are broken away in cross section to illustrate the method of attachment of the carrier thereto.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 2-2 in Fig. 1 and illustrating the lower connection between the carrier and the stretcher.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 3-3 in Fig. 1 and illustrating details of the upper attachment and clamp of the carrier.

Generally my carrier consists of an upright I that is attachable to a stretcher 2 by an upper clamp or support 3 and a lower support 4. The upright l is of tubular metal construction and. desirably includes a telescopically collapsible upper section 5 that can be clamped in vertically adjusted position by a clamp nut 6 that collapses the upper end of the upright l in a well known clamping action. The upper section 5 carries a crossbar 1 on the ends of which are attached pairs of oppositely opening hooks 8 adapted to receive the bail 9 of an infusion liquid container [0.

The upper clamp 3 includes a body II that is vertically bored as at I2 to slidably receive the upright I. A set screw 13 extending through the side of the body adjustably clamps the body to the upright to position the clamp just below the rim H of the stretcher. The upper end of the body It is provided with two transversely The drawings, of 1' of the upright I.

extending bosses l5, one on each side of the bore l2, and having transversely extending bores it formed therethrough to slidably pass the clamp rods 11. The forward ends of the clamp rods I! are interconnected by a crossplate I8 and a clamp screw I9 is threaded through the crossplate so that its inner end bears against the front side of the body II. An adjusting hand wheel is carried on the outer end of the screw [9. The rear or inner face of the body II is provided with a vertical flange 2| that carries a pivotal support 22 for the outer ends of a pair of links 23 that are thus spaced apart by the flange 2|. The inner ends of the links 23 are connected by a pivot 24 to an upwardly extending clamp bar 25.

As is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 the clamp bar 25 is provided with an integral crossbar 2% that has its ends positioned between the rods i! and pivotally connected thereto as by pins 27. The upper end of the clamp bar 25 extends substantially above the crossbar 26 and is drilled and tapped for the reception of an outwardly facing clamp screw 28. The outer end of the clamp screw is pointed for penetrating engagement with the inner surface of the rim Hi as at 23.

The above described construction of the upper clamp 3 permits the clamp to be vertically adjusted for proper elevation with respect to the rim of the stretcher, and also permits considerable adjustment of the space between the out wardly facing point of the clamp screw 28 and the'inner surface of the bore l2 that extends through the body. Thus the upper clamp can be adjusted to effectively grip a wide variety of .rim structures such as are found on difiereht makes of hospital stretchers. In the embodiment of the stretcher illustrated the rim It is provided with a rubber bumper or cushion that is pressed between the metal rim I4 and the upright l of the carrier.

The lower support '4 of the carrier consists of a horizontal rod or bar 3| that is provided with a coupling 32 at its outer end. The coupling 32 has a vertically extending bore formed therethrough for adjustably receiving the lower end A clamp screw 33 having a hand wheel 34 is provided for clamping the coupling to the upright.

Slidably adjustable along the bar or rod 3! is an inner coupling 35 that has a horizontally extending passage formed therethrough for receiving the rod 3i. A clamping screw 36 extends through the top of the coupling for clamping the coupling with respect to the rod. The lower portion of the coupling 35 is bored transversely to the upper bore to receive a longitudinally extending support rod 31. A permanently fixed set screw 38 clamps the coupling 35 to the rod 31'. The ends of the rod 31 carry a pair of saddle elements 39 that are provided with downwardly diverging arms 40 that form V-shaped notches or seats adapted to fit over and rest upon a horizontal frame element of the stretcher as at M in Fig. 1. The dotted lines at 42 in Fig. l illustrate an adjusted position of the support in engagement with; a modified or diiferent type of stretcher frame at 43.

The infusion carrier as thus described is readily adjustable to fit practically any type of hospital stretcher, and is further adjustable to vary the elevation at which the fluid container is supported above the stretcher. By means of this infusion carrier the infusion apparatus may be attached to the patient and suspended from the stretcher so that the infusion operation may proceed without the attendance of a nurse or other person. The carrier being clamped to the stretcher will move with the stretcher so that the infusion process may continue while the patient and stretcher are being moved as may be necessary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An infusion carrier for attachment to a stretcher comprising, a telescopically extensible upright support rod having infusion fluid container supporting hooks at the upper end thereof,

a lower coupling vertically slidably adjustable along the lower end of said upright and having a bar extending transversely therefrom to project underneath the stretcher, a second coupling longitudinally adjustably secured to said bar and having a transversely extending rod secured thereto, downwardly facing saddles carried on the ends of said transversely extending rod and adapted to seat upon a frame element of the stretcher, an upper clamp member vertically slidably adjustable on said upright rod and having a pair of transversely extending passages formed therethrough on opposite sides of said support rod, clamp rods slidable in said passages and connected at their outer end by a crossplate, a clamp screw threadedly engaged with said orossplate and abutting at its inner end against said clamp member, a link pivotally connected to the inner side of said clamp memher and projecting inward1y therefrom, a clamp bar pivotally connected to the inner end of said vcrsely therefrom to project underneath the s retcher, a second coupling longitudinally adjustably secured to said bar and having a transversely extending rod secured thereto, downwardly facing saddles on the ends of said transversely extending rod and adapted to seat upon a frame element of the stretcher, an upper clamp member vertically slidably adjustable on said upright rod and having a transversely extending passage formed therethrough, a clamp rod slidable in said passage and having a cross member on its outer end, a clamp screw threadedly engaged with said cross member and abutting at its inner end against said clamp member, a link pivotally connected to the inner side of said clamp member and projecting inwardly therefrom, a clamp bar pivotally connected to the inner end of said link and extending upwardly thereabove, and an adjustable clamp screw threaded through the upper end of said clamp bar and having a pointed end facing outwardly to engage the inner side of the rim of said stretcher, said clamp bar being pivotally connected intermediate of its ends to said clamp rod.

3. An infusion carrier for attachment to a stretcher comprising, an upright support rod having infusion fluid container supporting hooks at the upper end thereof, a lower coupling mounted on the lower end of said upright and having bar extending transversely therefrom to Droiect underneath the stretcher, a second coup longitudinally adjustably secured to said bar and having a transversely extending rod secured thereto, downwardly facing saddles on the ends of said transversely extending rod and adapted to seat upon a frame element of the stretcher, an upper clamp member vertically slidably adjustable on said upright rod and having a transversely extending passage formed therethrough, a clamp rod slidable in said passage and having a cross member on its outer end, a clamp screw thread'edly engaged with said cross member and abutting at its inner end against said clamp member, a link pivotally connected to the inner side of said clamp member and projecting inwardly therefrom, a clam bar pivotally connected to the inner end of said link and extending upwardly thereabove, and an adjustable clamp screw threaded through the upper end of said clamp bar and having a pointed end facing outwardly to engage the inner side of the rim of said stretcher, said clamp bar being pivotally connected intermediate of its ends to said clamp rod.

4. An infusion carrier for attachment to a stretcher comprising, an upright support rod having an infusion fluid container supporting element at the upper end thereof, the lower end of said upright having a bar extending transversely therefrom to project underneath the stretcher, a coupling longitudinally adjustably secured to said bar and having a transversely extending rod secured thereto, downwardly facing saddles on the ends of said transversely extending rod and adapted to seat upon a frame element of the stretcher, an upper clamp member vertically slidably adjustable on said upright rod, a link pivotally connected to the inner side of said clamp member and projecting inwardly therefrom, a clamp bar pivotally connected to the inner end of said link and extending upwardly thereabove, an adjustable clamp screw threaded through the upper end of said clamp bar and having a pointed end facing outwardly to engage the inner side of the rim of said stretcher, and screw means carried by said upper clamp member and connected to said clamp bar intermediate of the ends thereof for drawing said clamp bar outwardly'toward said upper clamp member.

5. An' adjustable infusion'carrier adapted for attachment to a stretcher comprising, an upright having means at its upper end for supporting a container of infusion fluid, a lower support rod vertically adjustably secured to the bottom of said upright and projecting laterally therefrom to extend underneath the stretcher, a lower support longitudinally adjustably mounted on said lower support rod to be located over a frame member of the stretcher, downwardly facing seats on the ends of said lower support disposed transversely of said lower support and spaced laterally from said lower support rod, an upper clamp member vertically adjustably mounted on said upright, and adjustable means on said clamp member and projecting above the inner side thereof adapted to clamp a rim portion of the stretcher against the inner Side of said upright.

6. An adjustable infusion carrier adapted for attachment to a stretcher comprising, an upright having means at its upper end for supporting a container of infusion fluid, a lower support rod on the bottom of said upright and projecting laterally therefrom to extend underneath the stretcher, a lower support longitudinally adjustably mounted on said lower support rod to be located over a frame member of the stretcher, downwardly facing seats on the ends of said lower support disposed transversely of said lower support and spaced laterally from said lower support rod, an upper clamp member vertically adjustably mounted on said upright, and adjustable means on said clamp member and projecting abov the inner side thereof adapted to clamp a rim portion of the stretcher against the inner side of said upright.

7. In combination with an upright rod adapted to be supported alongside of a stretcher as an infusion carrier, a clamp for clamping said upright against the rim of the stretcher comprising a vertically apertured body slidably adjustable on said upright, said body defining transversely extending passages on opposite sides of said upright, clamp rods slidably extending through said passages and connected at their forward ends by a crosspiece, a clamping screw threadedly engaged with said crosspiece and abutting at its inner end against said body, a clamp bar disposed at the inner side of said body and pivotally connected intermediate of its ends to said clamp rods, means including a link pivoted at its ends to said body and said bar connecting 6 the lower end of said clamp bar to said body, and a stretcher engaging element comprising an outwardly facing adjustable screw carried by the upper end of said clamp bar and pointed at its outer end.

8. In combination with an upright rod adapted to be supported alongside of a stretcher as an infusion carrier, a clamp for clamping said upright against the rim of the stretcher comprisin a vertically apertured body slidably adjustable on said upright, said body defining a transversely extending passage, a clamp rod extending through said passages, screw means arranged to move said clamp rod in said passage, a clamp bar disposed at the inner side of said body and pivotally connected intermediate of its ends to said clamp rod, means swingably connecting the lower end of said clamp bar to said body, and a stretcher engaging element comprising an outwardly facing adjustable screw carried by the upper end of said clamp bar and pointed at its outer end.

9. In combination with an upright rod adapted to be supported alongside of a stretcher as an infusion carrier, a clamp for clamping said upright against the rim of the stretcher comprising a vertically apertured body slidably adjustable on said upright, said body defining a transversely extending passage, a clamp rod extending through said passages, screw means arranged to move said clamp rod in said passage, a clamp bar disposed at the inner side of said body and pivotally connected intermediate of its ends to said clamp rod, means swingably connecting the lower end of said clamp bar to said body, and a stretcher engaging element carried by the upper end of said clamp bar.

JOSEPHINE E. KREWSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 546,570 Young Sept. 17, 1895 561,514 Lichtenstein Jun 2, 1896 573,703 Robbins Dec. 22, 1896 617,096 Harrison et a1. Jan. 3, 1899 1,301,953 Lewis Apr. 29, 1919 1,588,914 Smith June 15, 1926 2,119,325 Goodhart May 31, 1938 2,460,244 Strauss Jan. 25, 1949 2,470,524 Scudder May 17, 1949 

